Sheriff says they drilled into tanks of over 20 vehicles to steal gas

Updated 11:23 pm, Sunday, February 10, 2013

BALLSTON SPA – Looking to score gas for their cars and their friends, three fuel thieves drilled into the gas tanks of at least 20 vehicles across Saratoga County last month, the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office said.

Some cars were hit twice in the thefts, the sheriff's office said.

Charged Saturday in the thefts were: Zachary Currier, 18, and Morgan Sharadin, 21, both of Ballston Spa, and Owen Gary, 18, who has no listed address. All three were charged with felony criminal mischief and grand larceny. The crimes carry a combined maximum sentence of 11 years in prison.

The sheriff's office said the thieves drilled into cars' gas tanks in five different towns, Saratoga Springs, and the village of Ballston Spa. Once the tanks were pierced, the thieves would fill up small gas containers and then use the fuel in their own cars or pass it along to friends, the sheriff's office said.

How much gas was stolen and what led to the arrests was not immediately clear. Sheriff's investigators who handled the case could not be reached for comment.

Currier, Sharadin and Gary were each arraigned in the Town of Ballston Court and sent to county jail after failing to post bail.